Identification means



Oct. 4,1960 J. D. SCHNEIDER L 2,954,620

IDENTIFICATION MEANS Filed Aug. V2l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l En: *Y Y sex onre. ove/ron i Wma/Wu,

Oct. 4, 1960 J. D. SCHNEIDER IDENTIFICATION MEANS 2 Shee'ts-Shee 2 L. s w W @Q ws ,f%/Z wy/MIM? M L Www/www3 m Q l MN@ I Nw D@ f@ Wg Q 1W%4 E%///% 45%: M%/ W QR \l Filed Aug. 2l, 1952 .kwu v u @Wwd IDENTIFICATION MEANS John Dickinson Schneider, Deerfield, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Firm of John Dickinson Schneider, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 21, 1952, Ser. No. 305,593

'4 Claims. (Cl. 40-21) This invention relates to identication means and more particularly to an identification means which bears an identifying symbol and which may be attached to a person or object whose identity or relation is to be established and preserved.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 194,635, filed November 8, 1950, and now abandoned.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of identication means which includes a strip of material bearing an identification symbol which may be attached to an object or person to identify the same.

The problem of identifying one person with another or one object with another person or another object is one which arises frequently. Perhaps the most obvious occasion is in maternity hospitals where during the course of a single morning a dozen or more babies may be born to an equal number of mothers, one infant following another in what often is rapid succession. Under these circumstances, the facilities of the hospital are taxed to the limit in recording and preserving proper identification of the infants so that each mother may be assured that she is receiving her own child.

Another occasion on which means for identification are required are in calamities, such as earthquakes, explosions and the like where, in order to prevent pilfering, identification means such as wallets are removed from the bodies without leaving any indication on the body identifying it with the wallet. Where the bodies of the victims are mutilated beyond recognition a situation may result in which erroneous identifications are made or bodies remain unidentified.

Another of the features of this invention is the provision of identification means which is particularly adapted for use in the situations outlined above to provide an identification means which may be in the form of a bracelet portion which can be securely attached to the person to be identified. If desired, two or more of such portions, each bearing an identicalidentifying symbol, may be secured to different persons or to the effects who are to be identified with each other.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of identifying means which will serve not only to positively identify an infant but also provides means whereby the name and other pertinent information concerning the infant is readily available to nurses who may be Working with the infant.

Other and further features of the invention will be apparent from the following disclosure and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the identification means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the identification means shown in Fig. 1 partially unfolded to show the details of construction;

'Fig 4 is a sectional view along line 4-`4 of Fig. 1;

'atented Get. 4, i969 Fig. 5 is a view of a card usable with the identication means of Fig. 1 which may be inserted thereinto in the manner shown in Fig. 6 which is a view of the left-hand portion of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and 8 show the identification means secured to the hand of the infant and its mother;

Fig. 9 shows the method of securing the identification means to the person to be identified;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View along line 10--10' of Fig. 7;

Fig. ll is a View like Fig. 1 of a modified form of identification means;

Fig. l2 is a View like Fig. 1 showing a strip of identification means of modified design in a one part form;

Fig. 13 is a view of a single part of the identification means of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view like Fig. 13 of a modified two part form; and

Fig. 15 Iis a view like Fig. 14 of a three part form.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, lthere are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the identification means comprises a band 20 of transparent flexible material which is folded in the manner shown in Fig. 2, solvent having been applied to the faces of the portions to be overlapped, and then the ovenlapped faces are pressed together to form a tube. It will be noted that one of the faces, namely the face 21a, has been bent back on itself during the folding operation. The band 20 may be made of non-irritating plastic material, for example, Vinylite, when used for identifying infants in the hospital. As this material is stretchable, a strip of non-stretchable material 22 is inserted in the tube prior to its being folded. Preferably the strip 22 is also of transparent material and may be cellophane which does not stretch. Rivets 23 and 24 are pro-vided adjacent each end of the tube 21. to provide the means` for securing the tube to the objects or persons to be identified. The tube itself may be severed Ito `divide it into two portions, for example the tube may be severed along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 to provide two separate end portions 25 and 26. Printed on the inside ofthe band 20 on each of the end portions is an identifying symbol 27 and 28 which may take the form of the numbers shown. As the printing is done before the band is folded and is on the inside of the tube, irritation from the ink used is prevented and altera-tion of the identification symbols is impossible. Other information, such as the name of the hospital, for example City Hospital, may also be printed on the inside of each of the strips if desired. ln using the strip, of course, each strip bears a `different identifying symbol. Thus there is only one strip bearing the number 162, previous and succeeding strips bearing different numbers.

When the infant is born, the tube is severed as indicated, and the end portion 25 is Wrapped around the infants wrist as shown in Fig. 8 and secured thereto by a riveting tool 30 in the manner shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, this is done by wrapping the end portion 25 around the wrist or ankle of the infant so that the ends overlap as shown in Fig. 10 whereupon the rivet 23 is secured in place through both ends. When this has occurred the only way in which the bracelet can be removed is by cutting it, as the rivet itself cannot be 0 reopened.

The other end portion 26 is then wrapped around the mothers wrist and riveted in place by the rivet 24 in the same manner as with the infants.

Later, when the baby is brought to the mother the mother has only to compare her number with that on the infants bracelet to be perfectly certain that she has her own child.

In order to assist nurses in the maternity ward nursery readily to identify each infant, there is provided a card 40 which carries a severable section 41 bearing suitable lines upon which may beinscribed the information indicated in a tab section 42 which may be torn from the first section along a line of weakness 43. With the information entered on the lines of the severable section 41 as shown'in Fig. 6, the card 40 may be inserted' in the open end of the portion 25 which is to be attached to the infant. Then by grasping the section 41 with the thumb and forefinger Ithe tab section 42 may be severed along the line 43 and withdrawn from the end of the bracelet leaving the section 41 not only within the tube but well spaced from the ends thereof so as to be easily visible and so as not to interfere with the subsequent riveting operation as the bracelet is secured to the infants wrist or ankle. With the card inserted, la nurse has no difficulty in finding Mrs Mary Jones Smiths baby when the occasion arises.

The tab -section 42 of 4the card 40 is provided with a gummed face so that it may be secured to the mothers history card which has accompanied her to the delivery room. The fingerprints of the mother may be placed on the back of both sections 41 and 42, section 41 remaining with the baby in its bracelet while the section 42 may thereupon be wetted and fastened to the history card for further identification.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the strip is formed of transparent non-irritating material with the proper identifying symbols or numbers printed on the inside of the strip so that irritation from the printing ink is avoided. The strip 50 includes a first end portion 51 to be secured to the infant and a second end' portion 52 to be secured to the mother, each portion having a rivet 53 and S4 for that purpose. The strip also includes an intermediate portion 55 which also bears the identifying symbol. In using this form of the invention, the portion 51 is removed along the line 56 and secured to the infant and the portion 52 is removed along the line 57 and secured to the mother. The intermediate portion 55 may be stapled or otherwise secured to the mothers history card so that the number appears in three places; on the infant, the mother and on the history card. Preferably, the strip 50 is stapled to the history card before being brought to the delivery room, the staple being driven through the intermediate portion 55 so that it remains with the card as each of the end portions are removed to be attached to the mother and infant. If desired, a card similar to the card 40 may be inserted in the infants portion 51 as previously described.

|In the above described form of `the invention, when the infant leaves the hospital the strip 51 may be removed from the infant and stapled to the hospital record card which still carries the intermediate portion 55 and thus act as a .receipt for the correct baby.

As previously noted the identification means of this invention may be usedin avariety of situations to identify objects and, more particularly, persons. Where a single person is to be identified the identification means may take the form of the one part band shown in Fig. l2. The identification band shown in this figure may, like the Videntification bands heretofore and hereafter described, be furnished to a hospital or other users in the form of an extended ribbon 60 preferably provided with lines or areas of Weakness, such as the area 61, between adjacent identification bands 62 and 63. Identification numbers as shown 'are provided at spaced intervals along the ribbon and securing means in the form of rivets 64, 65 and 66 are provided, one for each individual part,

and preferably located adjacent the identification nurnber. It will be noted that that portion of the band between the rivets 64 and 65 is provided with two different' part identification means such as shown in Fig. 13. The

identification number may be 4recorded along with the name of the individual to whom it is to be attached and then the band may be encircled around the wrist or ankle of the individual and secured by the rivet as previously described. If desired, a card such as the card 4() previously described may be inserted inside of the identification band more positively to identify `the person.

The form of identification means just described is particularly usable in institutions where elderly people are apt to be encountered, such as county hospitals yand the like. If the individual is somewhat senile, or if the accident or injury is such as to cause a temporary or permanent lapse of memory, the use of the identification means is definitely indicated and serves to retain the identity of the person.

Where two persons are to be identified with each other (or where a person is to be identified With certain 'objects the two part identification means is preferred and another form of such two part means is shown in Fig. 14. Referring now to that figure, there is shown a band 7 0 which may Ibe cut from an extended ribbon of plastic material formed in the manner previously described, with the band having a rivet at each end such as the rivets 71 and 72. An .identification symbol in the form of a number 73 is provided at one end of the band and a second identification number 74 identical with the rst is provided at the other end of the band. It will be noted that for ease in applying the identification means the second number and the printing associated therewith is inverted the reversed relative to the first number.

The identical symbols together with the name of the hospital and the designating marks mother and baby may be printed on the interior of the folded tube so as to be visible therethrough.

The identification means shown in Fig, 14 may be used in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 1, with the two sections being severed and the left-hand section encircled about the wrist of the mother and the night-hand section encircled about the wrist of the infant (if the identication means is used to identify a newborn infant with its mother), with each section being secured in such encircling arrangement by the rivets associated with each section. Y g

It is sometimes desirable that two identification means be provided for each infant, one to be encircled about the wrist of the infant and the other about its ankle. Also the situation may sometimes arise where a person is to be identified with more than one other person or object. In such `cases a three part identification means such as shown in Fig. 15 may be employed. As shown in that gure, the identification band is provided with three identifying numbers 81, 82 and 83 which define three different sections in the band, the longer of which associated with the identification number 81 is adapted to be encircied about the wrist of the mother while the shorter two identified respectively with the identification numbers 82 and 83 are adapted to be encircled about the wrist and ankle of a newborn infant. Rivets 8486 are associated with each section of the band to provide the means for securing the respective sections in encircling arrangement. If desired, a card such as the card 40 may be inserted in any one or more of the sections of the identification means to provide suchnecessary information as may be required.

When used in a maternity ward the two part or three part identification means shown in Figs. 14 and 15 may be used with advantage to provide positive identification of the infant. In such cases a single band, such as the band 70 or the band 80, is severed from the long ribbon of such bands which are attached together in the manner shown in the embodiment of Fig. 12 (each such band in the strip whether it be a two part or three part band of course bearing identification numbers or symbols different from adjacent bands) and a single band is brought Linto the delivery room. The lines or areas of weakness provided in the extended ribbon from which the band is severed are preferably provided only at each fend of each band. By so spacing the lines of weakness each band may be severed from the ribbon with less likelihood of errors in cutting occurring so that each band :is provided with three identical identication symbols. It would of course cause confusion if a band were carelessly severed from the extended ribbon so as to include an identification symbol from an adjoining band.

If no card is to be used the part to be encircled about the mothers wrist may be wrapped therearound and secured thereto by means of the rivet provided. It is preferable in applying the band that the nurses finger remain under the band while the position for the making of the hole for the reception of the rivet is noted so that the band will fit comfortably about the mothers wrist. The section of the band to be used for identifying the infant is left attached to the part encircling the mothers wrist until the infant is born at which time that part may be severed from the mothers identification means and wrapped around the wrist or ankle of the infant. Preferably the nurses finger is not inserted under the band when measuring for the making of the hole in the infants band to allow for the normal loss of weight which occurs in a newborn child. The infants band is then secured to the wrist or ankle of the infant and any excess of the band extending beyond the rivet may be cut off. If cards are to be used in the motherls or infants band it is preferred not to attach the section for the mother until after the child is born to facilitate insertion of the cards in both identification sections.

It may be advisable to encircle the identification band about the neck of a premature infant. As such infants are normally retained in the hospital for some period, during which time considerable growth occurs, a band around the wrist if secured closely enough to prevent its falling off would eventually become too tight for the infant.

If twins are expected it is preferable to provide two identification bands, one for each infant, with the corresponding mothers part encircled about each wrist of the mother although, if desired, a three part band may be used with one part used forl the mother and the other parts being used, ione for each infant.

I claim:

l. Identification means comprising an elongated band of transparent non-irritating plastic material having two end portions, said band being folded about its longitudinal axis to form an elongated fiat Vtube having closed sides, a strip of non-stretchable transparent plastic material in the tube and extending substantially from end to end thereof, matching identification numbers printed on each end portion on an internal face of the tube, said end portions being adapted to be separated and each encircled about a limb of a different person, means for permanently securing each end portion in encircling position, a card having a tab por-tion and a portion severably attached thereto with the severable portion being adapted to bear identification data, said card being adapted to be inserted into one end of the tube forming one of the end portions and to have said tab portion removed therefrom to leave the severable portion within and spaced from the ends of the last-mentioned end portion.

2. Identification means comprising an elongated fiat tube of transparent plastic material having closed sides and two end portions, a strip of non-stretchable transparent plastic material in the tube, said end portions being adapted to be separated and encircled about members to be identified, means for securing each end portion around a member, a card having a tab portion and a portion severably attached thereto with the severable portion being adapted to bear identification data, said card being adapted to be inserted into one end of the tube forming one of the end portions and to have said tab portion removed therefrom to leave the severable portion within and spaced from the ends of the last-mentioned end portion.

3. Identification means comprising an elongated tube of transparent plastic material, a strip of non-stretchable plastic material in the tube, said tube being adapted to be encircled about a member to be identified, means for securing said tube around a member, a card having a tab portion and a portion severably attached thereto with lthe severable portion being adapted to bear identification data, said card being adapted to be inserted into one end of the tube and to have said tab portion removed therefrom to leave the severable portion within and spaced from the ends of the tube.

4. Identification means comprising an elongated tube of transparent plastic material, a strip of non-stretchab-le plastic material in the tube, said tube being adapted to be encircled about a member to be identified, means for securing said tube around a member, a card having a pusher portion and a second portion adapted to bear identilication data, said card being adapted to be inserted into one end of the tube by said pusher portion to leave the second portion within and spaced from the ends of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,298,859 Anthony Apr. 1, 1919 1,332,421 Bogardus Mar. 2, 1920 1,806,142 Beck May 19, 1931 1,905,392 Freydberg Apr. 25, 1933 1,922,767 Humphner Aug. 15, 1933 2,449,181 Smiley Sept. 14, 1948 2,561,894 Wallich July 24, 1951 2,641,074 Richmond June 9, 1953 

